JACKPOT!

MADISON, Mo. — When Cindy and Alan Hultz of Madison stopped to help a stranded motorist on Aug. 16, they didn't expect a reward for their generosity. They just felt it was the right thing to do.

"They were out of gas and had no money, so we gave them $20," Cindy explained. "We just felt like we should 'pay it forward' to someone that needed help."

Three days later on Aug. 19, Cindy, 42, stopped by Abels' Quik Shop, 719 S. Main St. in Paris, and decided to purchase a Missouri Lottery Cadillac® Riches Scratchers ticket. Moments after scratching the ticket, she rushed back to the store to have the cashier confirm what she thought she was seeing.

"I told him 'I think I won a car.' He took a look at the ticket and said, 'I think you're right,'" said Hultz.

It appeared their simple act of kindness a few days earlier may have just been paid back. The prize on the winning ticket was a new Cadillac® CTS™ Sports Sedan valued at $42,600 after taxes. "We always felt that if you are kind to people, then good things happen, but we didn't expect anything like this," confided Hultz.

Hultz chose the cash option for their prize. They plan on taking their two sons and their families on a vacation.